LAND CLAIMS—SIR A. GORDON’S NEGLECT OF DUTY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1108, 28 July 1882, Page 4

LAND CLAIMS—SIR A. GORDON’S NEGLECT OF DUTY.

We quote from the N.Z. Herald the following : —“ The great question agitating the minds of the colonists here at the present time is that of the disallowed land When these Islands were cedeato the British Gorernment, it was .conditional that all the land lona fide alienated to Europeans up to that date, should be recognised as the property of such persons. With a view to ascertain what Jlands were thus bona fide alienated, it was necessary to appoint a Commission to investigate the various claims, and the first Governor, Sir A. Gordon, received instructions from Earl Carnarvon accordingly. In these instructions there was one passage of great importance, which, had it been acted upon either in the spirit or to the letter, would have had the effect of preventing all the heart burnings and disappointments that have existed during (the past five years on the subject. The passage referred to is “In appointing the Commission to deal with the question it is most important that it should be independent of local influence, and composed, as far as possible, of persons unconnected with the Colony prior to the cession.” Now these instructions were at no time observed by Sir A. Gorden. Ist. The Commission was composed of certain stipendiary magistrates, and members of the Governor’s private staff, many of the former being “ connected with the Colony prior to the cession." 2nd. It was given uo power to “ decide," the dtuios relegated to it being merely to investigate. The real Land Board was the Governor in Council—a Council nominated by himself, and who were expected to do his bidding. When, therefore, it will be remembered that, Sir A. Gordon from the way he appeared to regard every land claimant as a swindler, and treated him accordingly; that the Commission was composed of his paid servants in a great measure, contrary to Earl Carnarvon's instructions; that by the Deed of Cession all lands which could be proved as not iona fide aliented to Europeans became the property of the Crown, andjhence the Crown an interested party ; that Sir. A. Gordon without any legislative authority, constituted himself judge—and judge in his own case— and his nominees of a Council as jury, in the decisions of such important matters it is no wonder that the whole community have, to a man refused, to be inspired with confidence in decisions arrived at under auchc ircumstanees as these. It would appear, too, that opposition or ■ruggle of the laud laimants to obtain their just rights, made this judge and jury view things less generously, for the number of disallowed claims increased every year, until toward the end few persons had sufficient hope in them to expect anything at all.